Whether you’re new to managing, have recently begun overseeing a larger team or could generally use a mid-year refresher on what good leadership looks like, we thought we’d dig into some of the habits winning bosses employ every day. Here, seven things successful managers do each morning that you should be doing too.
How To Be A Better Boss ASAP
There are certain early-morning habits you'll want to employ to set the stage for a good day before you even enter the office. Here, a complete list.
While it's true that you may start work much earlier than your employees whether you're in the office or not, it's not a great look to consistently stroll in much later than you require them to be at their desks. This is particularly true on a Monday morning—your presence reassures your staff that you're organized, together and in control.
Though you may want to put your head down first thing in the morning, instead set the tone for the day by exchanging niceties with your employees. Being standoffish creates unnecessary friction that persists throughout the day.
Research has shown many employees don't know what's expected of them in their jobs, which is a recipe for disaster. Everyone is happier when expectations are communicated regularly so no one ends up lost or caught unaware of where they might be falling short. We suggest a (brief) Monday morning email outlining expectations for the week, reminding of any projects that must be completed and/or making note of any special meetings or events happening.
Your time is likely to be in high demand, depending on the size of your organization and the number of people who report to you. Successful managers know which meeting requests to decline in order to optimize productivity for themselves and their team. Mornings are a great time to clear the calendar of unnecessary gatherings.
If you don't block off some time to handle daunting tasks or focus on outstanding projects, it's likely you'll find your day sucked out from underneath you and before you know it, you'll have ended with a to-do list longer than the one with which you began. To avoid this, we suggest scheduling a bit of time each day specifically for you and whatever you may need—crying in the bathroom included.
Obviously you don't have time to handhold your employees through their day, but it can't hurt to send a quick group chat to see if anyone needs your input on anything before you become engaged in your own tasks. Knowing you're willing and available to help will endear your employees and make them feel safe to reach out with questions or concerns at other times.
